The J. Geils Band

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The J. Geils Band
L-R: J. Geils, Magic Dick, Peter Wolf Not pictured: Seth Justman, Danny Klein, Stephen Jo Bladd
L-R: J. Geils, Magic Dick, Peter Wolf
Not pictured: Seth Justman, Danny Klein, Stephen Jo Bladd
Background information
OriginWorcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresRock, blues rock (early), new wave (late)
Years active1967–1985, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009–2015
LabelsAtlantic, EMI America
Past membersJ. Geils
Stephen Jo Bladd
Magic Dick
Danny Klein
Seth Justman
Peter Wolf
Websitejgeilsband.com

The J. Geils Band /ˈɡaɪlz/ was an American rock band formed in 1967, in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of guitarist John "J." Geils. The original band members included vocalist Peter Wolf, harmonica and saxophone player Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz, drummer Stephen Bladd, vocalist/keyboardist Seth Justman, and bassist Danny Klein. Wolf and Justman served as principal songwriters. The band played R&B-influenced blues rock during the 1970s and soon achieved commercial success before moving toward a more mainstream radio-friendly sound in the early 1980s, which brought the band to its commercial peak. They performed a mix of cover songs of classic blues and R&B songs, along with original compositions written primarily by Wolf and Justman, as well as some group compositions written under the pseudonymous name Juke Joint Jimmy, representing compositions credited to the entire band as a whole. After Wolf left the band in 1983 to pursue a solo career, the band released one more album in 1984 with Justman on lead vocals, before breaking up in 1985.[1] Beginning in 1999, the band had several reunions prior to the death of its namesake, J. Geils, on April 11, 2017.

The band first released several

Love Stinks" (which reached No. 38 in 1980 and was featured in several films), "Centerfold" (No. 1 in 1982), and "Freeze-Frame
" (No. 4 in 1982).

Early days

The band started in the mid-1960s while John Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a couple of semesters after transferring from Northeastern University in Boston (where he lived in "The Playboy Room" of the Gamma Phi Kappa Fraternity). Originally named Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels, the group was an acoustic blues trio with Geils on guitar, bassist Danny Klein ("Dr. Funk"), and harmonica player Richard Salwitz ("Magic Dick").

In 1968, the band switched focus, going electric and recruiting two fellow musicians from

WBCN disc jockey with the air name Peter Wolf.[2] Initial influences included James Cotton and Little Walter — in 2008 interview, harmonica star Magic Dick said they were all "harp freaks".[3]

They became The J. Geils Blues Band, later dropping the word "Blues" from the band name. Soon, fan Seth Justman joined on keyboards and the band started to earn a sizable following in the Boston area.[4]

The band took its time carefully considering various offers of contracts. Unofficial live recordings circulated: as noted in Creem, "WBCN had the infamous J. Geils 'bathroom tapes' (that were almost exactly what the name implies) and a tape of their performance at Alternate Media Conference at Goddard College, but these hardly sufficed" to fans who wanted a proper album.[5] The group ultimately signed to Atlantic Records in 1970.

1970s touring, recordings and early top 40 success

After spending the better part of 1970 playing live shows around the US opening for artists as eclectic as

AM radio airplay with a series of several successful singles in the early 1970s, the first one being a cover version of The Valentinos' "Lookin' for a Love", which appeared on their second album The Morning After and was their Top 40 debut in 1972 (at No. 39 on the Billboard chart). The album was released in October 1971. The song "Cry One More Time" (also on The Morning After) was later covered by Gram Parsons on his debut album
in 1973.

Through constant touring, the band soon built a large following in the US for their energetic live shows,

Cobo Arena
.

After the release of their first two albums and keeping a busy show schedule, it was The J. Geils Band's third album

EMI America for Sanctuary (1978), which charted at No. 49 on the Billboard 200
and spun off a sizable hit single in "One Last Kiss" (No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100).

1980s commercial peak and breakup

The group hit their commercial peak and achieved mainstream success in the early 1980s, first with the humorous

Showtime!, which contained their #24 live hit cover of "I Do", originally a 1965 hit by the Marvelows, which the band remade for their 1977 Monkey Island
album.

Wolf left the group in 1983 over disagreements on the group's musical direction. Many years later in 2016, Wolf offered the following recollection of the disagreements within the group that led to his departure: "I did not leave the band, but the majority of the band wanted to move in another direction.[...] They wanted to continue in a pop-techno way, [and] it wasn't my thing."[12]

The band went on to record one more album of new material, You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd. Seth Justman took over lead vocal duties in Wolf's absence. The album produced only one single, "Concealed Weapons", and was not a commercial success. The group then disbanded in 1985 after contributing the title song to the horror film Fright Night.

Reunion appearances, Geils' departure, and final dissolution

The group reunited with Wolf in 1999 for a 13-date tour of the East Coast and upper Midwest.

Sim Cain
sat in on drums for this tour, which also saw the band supported by backup singers Andricka Hall and Catherine Russell, as well as the Uptown Horns (who had also appeared with the group on its Freeze Frame Tour). After the '99 reunion tour finished at that year's end, Wolf returned to touring with his own backup band.

On February 26, 2005, the band (with drummer Marty Richards) reunited at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for a charity show for the Cam Neely Foundation for cancer care. On May 22, 2006, all six original members had a surprise reunion at bassist Danny Klein's 60th birthday party at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston.

On February 19, 2009, the band reunited again to perform the opening concert at the new House of Blues in Boston on Lansdowne Street (formerly the location of Avalon, Axis, The Embassy and The Modern), with Marty Richards on drums and Mitch Chakour supplying backup vocals. Subsequently, they played two shows on April 24 and 25 at Detroit's Fillmore Theater (formerly State Theater). They also did a second show on Lansdowne Street on April 28.[13]

On July 11, 2009, The J. Geils Band played at the Borgata Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, selling out the Borgata's 2,000-seat event center. On December 31, 2009, the band reunited for a one-night live gig at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.[14]

The band played a benefit in Boston for Big Brothers/Big Sisters on January 23, 2010. On August 14, 2010, The J. Geils Band reunited once again to open for Aerosmith at a sold-out show at Fenway Park.[15] For their 2010 dates, the band was again supported by the Uptown Horns along with backup singers Mitch Chakour, Andricka Hall and Nichelle Tillman. Hall and Tillman toured with the band for their 2012 tour, as did the Uptown Horns, while Hall, Mitch Chakour, and Ada Dyer were the backup singers on the 2011 tour. Since this time, Wolf and Geils had also both been touring as solo artists. Danny Klein formed a new band called Danny Klein's Full House that was dedicated to playing the music of The J. Geils Band.

The J. Geils Band embarked on a short U.S. tour in August/September 2012. However, they left for the tour without J. Geils, replaced by touring guitarists Duke Levine and Kevin Barry, along with touring drummer Tom Arey. A furious Geils filed a lawsuit against the other group members over using the band's name for a tour without him. He named band members Richard Salwitz, Danny Klein, Peter Wolf and Seth Justman in the lawsuit filed in Boston Superior Court, claiming that they "planned and conspired" to continue touring without him and were unlawfully using the group's trademarked name. Geils' lawsuit was unsuccessful. Angry at his bandmates for what they did, he permanently left the band, although he admitted in an interview several years later he did not bear his bandmates any ill will, saying, "I wish them well. There is no bitterness on my part..."[16] Geils died in 2017.[17][18]

Despite losing their eponymous leader, the J. Geils Band remained active. On May 30, 2013, they performed six songs as part of the Boston Strong concert at the TD Garden in Boston. The concert, a benefit for victims of the recent Boston Marathon bombing victims, also featured Aerosmith, James Taylor, Boston, Dropkick Murphys, New Kids on the Block, Bell Biv DeVoe, Boyz II Men, Jimmy Buffett, Carole King, Extreme and Jason Aldean.

In 2013 the band was the opening act for

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
on most tour dates across North America, along with a few solo shows. Their final tour was in the summer of 2015 with their final show being played in Detroit, MI.

The band was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the years 2005, 2006, 2011, 2017, and 2018. They were not voted in on any of those attempts.[19]

Projects outside of the band

Since the breakup of the band in 1985, J. Geils began restoring

Mambo Sons guitarist Tom Guerra
. In the interview, Geils revealed his playing approach, jazz influences and choice of instruments. Geils released several jazz albums with Gerry Beaudoin.

Magic Dick contributed his harmonica playing and some vocals as part of a live recording called Command Performance by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue featuring The Tommy Castro Band, Deanna Bogart, Ronnie Baker Brooks and others. Since 2007, he has toured as part of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue on different Blues Cruises and again on land-based shows.[21] Magic Dick is still active and touring as an acoustic duo with Shun Ng. The duo released an EP "About Time".

Peter Wolf followed his time in the band with a moderately successful solo career, having six solo singles chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in the 1980s and early 1990s. He continued to release albums into the 2010s, with his most recent release A Cure for Loneliness being released in 2016. He toured with Kid Rock during the first half of 2008 and continues to tour heavily with his solo band, the Midnight Travelers.

Members

  • Peter Wolf – lead vocals, percussion (1968–1983, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009–2015)
  • Seth Justman – keyboards, backing vocals (1968–1985, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009–2015), lead vocals (1983–1985)
  • Danny Klein – bass (1968–1985, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009–2015)
  • Magic Dick – harmonica, saxophone, trumpet, occasional backing vocals (1968–1985, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009–2015)
  • J. Geils – guitar (1968–1985, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009–2012; died 2017)
  • Stephen Jo Bladd – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1968–1985, 2006), lead vocals (1983–1985)

Touring members

  • Sim Cain
    – drums (1999)
  • Catherine Russell – backing vocals (1999)
  • Andricka Hall – backing vocals (1999, 2010–2015)
  • Marty Richards – drums (2005, 2009–2011)
  • Mitch Chakour – backing vocals (2009–2011)
  • Nichelle Tillman – backing vocals (2010, 2012)
  • Duke Levine – rhythm guitar (2009–2011), lead guitar (2012–2015)
  • Kevin Barry – rhythm guitar (2012–2015)
  • Tom Arey – drums (2012–2015)
  • Ada Dyer - backing vocals (2011)
  • Cheryl Freeman - backing vocals (2013–2015)

The Uptown Horns

  • Arno Hecht - tenor sax (1982, 1999–2015)
  • Crispin Cioe - alto & baritone sax (1982, 1999–2015)
  • Paul Litteral - trumpet (1982)
  • Larry Etkin - trumpet (1999–2015)
  • Bob Funk - trombone (2010)

Timeline

Discography

Main article: The J. Geils Band discography

References

  1. ^ "The Album That Broke Up The J. Geils Band". 95.9 The Fox. October 26, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "1965/68 – The Hallucinations ~ The J. Geils Band.Net". Thejgeilsband.blogspot.com. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  3. ^ Modern Blues Harmonica (March 7, 2008). "Magic Dick explains "Whammer Jammer"". Retrieved March 19, 2018 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b c Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "J. Geils Band | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  5. ^ Edmonds, Ben (March 1971). "J Geils Band: Beantown Get-down". Creem. Retrieved June 23, 2018 – via Rock's Backpages.
  6. ^ a b "THE J. GEILS BAND: Tour Dates 1970 – 1983 ~ The J. Geils Band.Net". Thejgeilsband.blogspot.com. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "Peter Wolf at The Egg". NewsTimes. October 7, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  8. ^ "Harmonica Players – Male – Rock/Pop/Folk Blues harp, Diatonic Harmonicas". Harmonicalinks.com. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  9. ^ "Because Music Matters – Featured Release". Hittin the Note. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  10. ^ Pevos, Edward (September 15, 2015). "Peter Wolf of The J. Geils Band calls Detroit 'our second home'". MLive. Retrieved January 12, 2023. 'We consider Detroit our second home...Detroit embraced us in a very special way.'
  11. ^ a b c "THE J. GEILS BAND: Tour Dates 1970 – 1983". thejgeilsband.blogspot.com. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "Peter Wolf talks J. Geils Band, new album before Atlanta concert - Atlanta Music Scene with Melissa Ruggieri". ajc.com. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Jim (February 6, 2009). "Open House – Music Features". Thephoenix.com. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  14. ^ "Mohegan Sun Newsroom » Blog Archive » J.Geils Band Live New Year's Eve". Newsroom.mohegansun.com. October 27, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  15. ^ "Aerosmith, J. Geils Band to Play Fenway Park on Aug. 14 – NESN Newswire". NESN.com. April 8, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  16. ^ Sullivan, Jim (April 11, 2023). "J. Geils Talks About His Former Band: Last Interview". Bestclassicbands.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Adam Sweeting. "J Geils obituary." The Guardian. April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  18. ^ Chokshi, Niraj (April 11, 2017). "J. Geils, Whose Band's Catchy Pop Hits Colored the 1980s, Dies at 71". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  19. ^ "J. Geils Band's Peter Wolf Makes His Case for Roll Hall Induction: 'Our Mission Was to Share the Roots'". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "KTR Racing Homepage". Ktrmotorsports.com. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  21. ^ "Legendary Rhythm And Blues Revue | Presented by LRBC". Legendaryrevue.com. Retrieved May 21, 2016.

External links

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